The living room was a mix of scattered LEGO pieces and soft laughter. Xavier was showing Xia and Xayden a trick with a spinning gear, and their little faces lit up with excitement.
Yushen crouched down, helping Xayden stack a stubborn LEGO tower. I sat on the sofa, watching quietly, feeling the warmth of the moment settle in.
"Gege… it's wobbly!" Xayden squeaked.
"Here, let me help!" Yushen said, carefully adjusting the base.
Xayden's eyes widened.
"Wow! You… you fixed it! Daddy, you're good at this!"
My heart skipped a beat. The word "Daddy" slipped out so naturally, so innocent. Yushen froze for a second, his eyes meeting mine, a small, surprised smile spreading across his face.
"Daddy?" Xia repeated, pointing at him. "Yes, yes! You're our new daddy now!"
"Mom… he's helping us! He's Daddy!" Xayden added, clapping his hands excitedly.
Yushen blinked, a little caught off guard but smiling softly. He gently ruffled their hair.
"Alright… Daddy it is, then," he said quietly, almost to himself, his voice filled with warmth.
I felt my chest tighten with happiness. The twins weren't rejecting him—they were accepting him in their own 6-year-old way, playful and simple.
"Mom! Look! Daddy helped me build the biggest tower ever!" Xia exclaimed.
"Yeah! Thanks, Daddy!" Xayden added, hugging Yushen's arm for a brief moment.
Yushen looked down at them, eyes soft and full of love.
"You two are… amazing," he whispered, crouching to their level. "I'm lucky to be your Daddy."
I smiled quietly from the sofa, feeling tears prick at my eyes. This was exactly the moment I had been hoping for—gentle, natural, and full of little hearts opening up.
"Mom… can Daddy play with us too?" Xia asked, tugging his sleeve.
"Of course," Yushen said, laughing, lifting her onto his lap as she squealed with joy. Xayden immediately climbed onto the sofa beside them, all three of them giggling together.
I watched, feeling the little puzzle pieces of our family starting to fit together perfectly. For the first time, I truly felt it—the warmth of home, the bond of love, and the promise that maybe, just maybe, we could all be a family together.
And as Yushen's hand rested gently on my shoulder, sharing a silent smile with me, I knew that this was only the beginning.
💛